Angel In The Canyon

 

 

Today I have another guest post written by my good friend Cindy Holder Poole in January 2021. If you are wondering why I share so many of her posts, it’s because Cindy has influenced me and given me so much inner strength to get through my own personal battle. Today’s post is a good example of this. 

𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻⁣

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Recently, I found myself lacking motivation, listening to negative self-talk and not really enjoying my outings very much. I would be just shy of my goal (top of the mountain) and I would suddenly give in to the self doubt and turn around without summiting. Stupid! I had already done the hard work!⁣

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I was skimping or skipping my scheduled workouts, cutting my mileage short on my planned walks, not following the plan. Not my usual behavior. My own negativity was really getting to me!!⁣

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Our family lost a dear and much loved uncle to Covid in December. The best man at my first wedding, only two years older than me, had also succumbed in December to that insidious virus. And a few weeks prior to that a good friend, the fittest man I knew, my former personal trainer, also died from Covid. My husband and I had Covid around this same time. While I wasn’t close to these people in recent years they each had played important roles in my life.⁣

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It was about this time when my poor attitude began. I didn’t really connect the dots, however, until later. I felt lost.⁣

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I had been planning a trip to see my mother for her 89th birthday. I was to leave on a Monday for the seven hour drive. My plan included driving home via the Grand Canyon, which I had never seen from the ground before. Definitely a bucket list item. I was sitting in my room feeling disgusted with myself for once again spoiling a good hike by turning around early. It dawned on me. I was depressed!! ⁣

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I made an immediate decision to leave a day early for my mother’s house in Arizona to fit in a hike I had wanted to do for nearly 25 years. It was a few minutes from my mother’s home. I realized I needed THAT kind of an outdoor adventure to give me a mental boost. I was in my truck an hour later!⁣

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It wasn’t until I got to the Grand Canyon that things clicked.⁣

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I had convinced myself that I couldn’t go to the bottom and up in one day. But just below the rim I saw him. A lone man watching as a friend entered the first tunnel below on Bright Angel Trail. I could see he wasn’t well. I suspected I knew why. Cancer. I stopped and looked into his face, gave a smile and said hello. He had difficulty speaking. Parkinson’s, he said, as well as multiple myeloma. Agent Orange. He’d hiked into that great canyon over sixty times but could now only encourage his good friend on her first hike. He looked upon her, I at his side, until she disappeared from view. ⁣

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He asked how far I was hiking. How far is your friend going, I asked. Indian Gardens. Then I will hike to Indian Gardens and check on her on my way. I told him I had aggressive Stage 4 cancer. We fist bumped. He advised me to let the Canyon envelope me, to hold me in her majesty, to become part of me. I said goodbye to Don and knew in my soul that I would not doubt myself that day.⁣

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I found his friend, Tracy. We had a good chat and I continued on. Once I knew she had made it to Indian Gardens I decided I would keep going to Plateau Point. I needed a spiritual moment and knew from everyone’s description that I would find it there. It did not disappoint.⁣

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Never once did I doubt myself that day. My angel on earth, Don, and his companion, Tracy, unknowingly gave me a huge gift that day.⁣

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⁣15.44 miles 4430 feet elevation loss 4430 feet elevation gain

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Until next time… 

This week’s #WhenIDieMakeSureMyNailsAreDone